Samaná breaks ground for Bayport cruise facility, to have SeaWalk pier

Ground was broken for the facility with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and executives from Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean joining Samaná Bayport officials.

First phase ready 2024

The first phase of operation is expected in early 2024. 

The US$22m project is being developed by Consorcio Temarsam, Dominican investors including those with decades of cruise industry experience.

The No. 1 at bottom right shows the path to the SeaWalk pier

Bayport consists of a cruise terminal with commercial space for restaurants, retail shops, museums, a dedicated ground transportation area, piers for water transport and excursions, marina, information center and recreation areas.

10,000 passengers and three ships simultaneously

The port plans to install a SeaWalk floating pier with the capacity to handle up to 5,000 passengers. This, together with the anchorage positions, will enable Bayport to serve 10,000 passengers a day and three ships simultaneously.

The terminal will be located in Santa Barbara where visitors can stroll along the seafront and bridges of Samaná. Samaná Bay is considered one of the world's best whale-watching spots as each winter hundreds of humpback whales arrive to mate and give birth.

In addition the site is located within easy reach of excursions including Cayo Levantado Island, Los Haitises National Park, Playa Rincón and El Limón waterfall.

Ideal location 

Samaná Bay is on the Dominican Republic's north coast, putting it in an ideal location for eastern Caribbean itineraries as well as sailings from homeports along the US Eastern Seaboard, according Federico Schad, president/director of Bahía Cruise Services, operator of the Samaná cruise facilities.

It was the second cruise development groundbreaking in the Dominican Republic in a matter of weeks, following Cabo Rojo in Pedernales on the southwest coast.